Meet Deckhand Jared Cordingly – Always Fixing Something
Welcome aboard! I’m Deckhand Jared Cordingly. My motto on the water—and in life—is simple: “Go with the flow”… except when you’re on anchor. I’m thrilled to be joining the Homer Halibut Hunters crew this season and can’t wait to help you reel in memories that last a lifetime.
California kid turned lifelong fisherman, Jared picked up his first rod at a yard sale when he was 9 and never looked back — 20 years later those vintage rods still hang on his wall. He’s joining Homer Halibut Hunters for his inaugural season as a deckhand, bringing energy like a “black Labrador who keeps dropping the ball at your feet” and a philosophy that the mountains, glaciers, and memories matter more than the fish. Off the water he’s chasing duck, snowmobiling anything with a turbo, and cooking meals that rival your grandma’s from his home in the Sierra Nevada foothills. His friends sum him up in three words: “always fixing something.”
Deckhand Jared Cordingly – My Journey to Homer
Jared’s fishing story didn’t begin with a charter boat or a captain’s license—it started at a yard sale. More than 20 years ago, a kid and his mom stumbled onto a table full of old fishing poles, most of them broken, and a pile of outdated tackle. That day, a stranger taught him his first knot. Today, some of those vintage rods still hang on his wall.
What got you into fishing, and how did you end up in Homer? Back before fishing was “cool”—at least cool on social media—I went to a yard sale where an old-timer had a huge collection of fishing poles. Most were old and broken, some were vintage, and maybe one rod was actually usable. There was also a pile of random, outdated tackle.
My mom bought them all for me. Before we left, the man taught me my very first fishing knot—a knot I still use to this day.
At 9 or 10 years old, I’d walk ten minutes up a busy highway from my house and spend my days chasing wild brown and rainbow trout. The rest is history. Now, more than 20 years later, I still have a few of those vintage rods hanging on my wall. Every time I look at them, I can’t help but wonder what that old-timer would think if he knew where fishing has taken me today.
A lot of little things drew me to Homer—friends that have visited, people who made careers there, the fishing, hunting, rural-but-not-so-rural Alaska… and well, if I keep speaking on it, you might want to move there too.
Who or what inspired your love of the outdoors? The big man upstairs. There really isn’t any other right answer.
My Guiding Philosophy: One Last Cast, One More Smile
There’s a certain kind of person who never wants to leave the water. The kind who makes “one last cast” six or seven times before finally pulling anchor. That’s Jared. His approach to the deck is built on infectious energy and a genuine desire to see every guest succeed—whether that means hands-on coaching or simply staying out of the way and letting you work the line.
How would you describe your guiding style or personality on the water? Like a black Labrador dropping the ball at your feet, over and over, while you keep throwing until you can’t anymore—that’s me. One last cast. One last fish. Until people start calling, wondering where I am.
How do you make sure everyone—from beginners to pros—has a great time? I’m there to give you all the help you need—or as little as you want—while making sure your rod stays bent and your smile reaches the sky.
And for anyone joining me, here is one tip I’d give to first-time anglers fishing in Alaska: Most trips start with hopes of landing a giant halibut, but the best ones end with snow-tipped mountains, ancient glaciers, and smiles etched into your memory. It’s all about the memories, not just the fish. Halibut is a treat, but the scenery is what it’s really all about.
Beyond the Halibut: A Fisherman’s Soul
Ask most deckhands about their favorite fish and you’ll hear “halibut” or “salmon.” Ask Jared, and his eyes light up talking about shallow-water redfish in the Louisiana bayou. It’s a window into who he is—a fisherman who has worked every kind of water, from mountain creeks in California to the brackish ponds of the Mississippi Delta, and brings that breadth of passion aboard every charter.
Favorite species of fish to target (besides halibut)? I’ve caught bigger fish than me, fish prettier than me, and surely fish that taste better than me… but my ultimate day on the water is chasing bull redfish in shallow ponds, deep in the bayou of the Mississippi Delta. Nothing beats sight fishin’ up a drag-screaming, beautiful, beaming-with-color bull red!
Do you have a favorite fishing superstition or ritual? Bananas are NOT bad luck. People always wonder why my boat is loaded with fish…
What’s one life lesson fishing or working on the water has taught you? Don’t stress the little things—like tangled lines or lost fish. There’s always more fish in the sea. Take that to your daily life, and you may just add a few years to the short time we have on earth.
A Typical Day & Life Off the Water for Deckhand Jared
When the Alaska fishing season wraps up, Jared trades the saltwater for the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. But “off-season” is a loose term for a man whose calendar fills quickly with duck hunting, snowmobiling, and anything that goes fast and has a turbo.
What’s your go-to meal or favorite thing to eat after a long day on the water? Gumbo or clam chowder on a cold day… fried shrimp or soft-shell crab po’boy when the sun’s out.
When the Alaskan season wraps up, where do you call home in the off-season? Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California. How do you spend your winter or off-season? Hunting, fishing, and loving every day. And if it’s fast and has a turbo, I could talk about it all day. Snowmobiles are hands-down the most fun you can have—you won’t change my mind. When duck season ends, snowmobile season is in full force.
If you weren’t fishing, what kind of work or lifestyle could you see yourself doing? Hunting, flying, or snowmobiling.
Quick Q&A: Getting to Know Jared
- Where did you grow up, and what brought you to Alaska? I grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, but Alaska truly lives up to its nickname—the Last Frontier. It’s a place where things can still be done that haven’t been done before, and where there are sights humans may have never seen.
- Do you have any pets or family members who often join you on adventures? Lauretta, my German Shorthaired Pointer, has a deep love for the water just like me. She’s been right there with me—kayak fishing and out on the boat, always ready for the next adventure. My girlfriend, Courtney, is by my side through it all as well, joining me on hunting and fishing adventures and sharing every early morning and long day outdoors.
- Something most people wouldn’t guess about you: My cooking is almost as good as your grandma’s.
- If you could fish anywhere else in the world, where would it be? Fly fishing for giant brown trout in New Zealand.
- How would your friends describe you in three words? Always fixing something.
- What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about becoming a fishing guide or deckhand? It’s never too late to start—most people never realize that. You’ll miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take.
Rapid Fire Q&A with Deckhand Jared
- What’s your favorite part of guiding guests on halibut charters? Watching someone’s face the moment they realize what’s on the other end of that line. You can’t fake that look. I’ve seen it a thousand times and it never gets old—pure, wide-eyed, “are you kidding me” excitement. That’s the good stuff.
- What do you enjoy most about working with guests from all over the world? Everyone’s got a fishing story. Doesn’t matter if you’re from Texas or Tokyo—put a rod in someone’s hand and suddenly we’re all speaking the same language. I’ve learned more about life from conversations on the water than I ever did in a classroom.
- What’s a typical day like for you during fishing season? Up before the sun, coffee that’s way too strong, and out the door while most people are still dreaming about fish. Once we’re on the water, it’s go-time until the last line comes in. By the time I get home, I smell like bait, I’m sunburned in places I didn’t know existed, and I’m already thinking about tomorrow.
- What’s one thing you think every visitor to Homer should experience (besides halibut fishing)? Just stop. Find a spot, sit down, and take it all in. The mountains, the water, the glaciers—it’s the kind of scenery that makes you forget your phone exists. Alaska has a way of reminding you how small you are and how big life really is.
- What does being part of the Homer Halibut Hunters crew mean to you? It means somebody believed in me enough to hand me a spot on the deck, and I don’t take that lightly. This crew is a family, and I plan to earn my place in it—one fish, one guest, one good day at a time.
Ready To Wet A Line?
Deckhand Jared Cordingly is joining us for his Inaugural Season in Homer, Alaska, bringing a lifetime of fishing passion—from Sierra Nevada trout streams to Mississippi Delta bayous—to the waters of Kachemak Bay. With more than 20 years of rod-in-hand experience and a work ethic forged in the California mountains, he’s ready to help you create the Alaskan fishing adventure of your dreams.
His philosophy is simple: the fish matter, but the memories matter more. Those snow-tipped mountains, ancient glaciers, and the laughter shared between strangers who become friends on the water—that’s what a day with Homer Halibut Hunters is really about.
As his friends say, he’s always fixing something—whether that’s a tangled line, a reluctant reel, or just finding one more reason to stay out on the water a little longer. When he’s not on the deck, you’ll find him with Lauretta, his German Shorthaired Pointer, chasing the next adventure alongside his girlfriend Courtney. His infectious enthusiasm, his “go with the flow” attitude, and his genuine love for the outdoors make him a natural fit for the Homer Halibut Hunters family.
All that’s left to do is ask: “Let’s wet a line!”